Notice of Intended Repatriation: Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Princeton University Art Museum intends to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation with the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 162 (Monday, August 24, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 54750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17184]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[N7421; NPS-WASO-NAGPRA-NPS0043527; PPWOCRADN0-PCU00RP14.R50000]


Notice of Intended Repatriation: Princeton University Art Museum, 
Princeton, NJ

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and 
Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the Princeton University Art Museum intends 
to repatriate a certain cultural item that meets the definition of an 
unassociated funerary object and that has a cultural affiliation with 
the Indian Tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations in this notice.

DATES: Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice may occur on or 
after September 23, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send additional, written requests for repatriation of the 
cultural item in this notice to Lauren Jakobsson, Project Analyst of 
the Cultural Property and Human Remains Repatriation Program, Princeton 
University Art Museum, Princeton University, Elm Drive, Princeton, NJ 
08544, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#204c4a13181917605052494e4345544f4e0e454455"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aec2c49d969799eededcc7c0cdcbdac1c080cbcadb">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is published as part of the 
National Park Service's administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA. 
The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the 
Princeton University Art Museum, and additional information on the 
determinations in this notice, including the results of consultation, 
can be found in the summary or related records. The National Park 
Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice.

Abstract of Information Available

    A total of one cultural item has been requested for repatriation. 
The one unassociated funerary object is a red-on-buff ceramic vessel in 
the form of a human head, that was excavated at the Big Eddy Site in 
St. Francis County, Arkansas in 1970. The archaeological context of the 
vessel is described by excavator Janine Fentiman in a 1981 publication: 
``The burial in question was located about 2\1/2\ feet below the ground 
surface. . . . On the right side of [human remains] was a red exterior 
bowl. . . . Under this pot was the head pot.'' The object was purchased 
from Atlantic Art Partners, sourced from an undisclosed art collection, 
by Princeton University Art Museum in 2013.
    Princeton University Art Museum has no knowledge of the presence of 
any potentially hazardous substances used to treat the object.

Determinations

    The Princeton University Art Museum has determined that:
    <bullet> The one unassociated funerary object described in this 
notice is reasonably believed to have been placed intentionally with or 
near human remains, and is connected, either at the time of death or 
later as part of the death rite or ceremony of a Native American 
culture according to the Native American traditional knowledge of a 
lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization. The 
unassociated funerary object has been identified by a preponderance of 
the evidence as related to human remains, specific individuals, or 
families, or removed from a specific burial site or burial area of an 
individual or individuals with cultural affiliation to an Indian Tribe 
or Native Hawaiian organization.
    <bullet> There is a connection between the cultural item described 
in this notice and the Quapaw Nation.

Requests for Repatriation

    Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural item 
in this notice must be sent to the authorized representative identified 
in this notice under ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be 
submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian 
organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a 
preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal 
descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian 
organization.
    Repatriation of the cultural item in this notice to a requestor may 
occur on or after September 23, 2026. If competing requests for 
repatriation are received, the Princeton University Art Museum must 
determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. 
Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural item are considered a 
single request and not competing requests. The Princeton University Art 
Museum is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian 
Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice and 
to any other consulting parties.
    Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 
25 U.S.C. 3004 and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.9.

    Dated: August 17, 2026.
Mariah Soriano,
Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program.
[FR Doc. 2026-17184 Filed 8-21-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-52-P


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>